Bermudian striker Kyle Lightbourne recently turned down an improved three-year contract that would have made him the highest paid player at English Second Division side Walsall, his agent Mark Georgevic disclosed yesterday.

Now his name will be circulated by both the Professional Footballers Association and the Football League in June as an out-of-contract player...a move Lightbourne hopes will land him a transfer to a club in the Premier League next season.

"There have been indications from clubs that there will be a great deal of interest in Kyle from divisions higher than his current Second Division, and things will start to move, I would say, in the first to second week of June,'' said Georgevic.

Walsall are resigned to losing their top scorer after Lightbourne turned down a third new contract offer just before returning home on vacation.

"Paul Taylor (Walsall general manager) released to the Press about two weeks ago that Kyle had rejected an offer, that he wanted to play at a higher level and they wouldn't stand in his way,'' said Georgevic.

"To be fair to a club like Walsall, the terms that he has been offered are very, very favourable. I have no doubt that he would have been the highest paid player at Walsall.'' Lightbourne has netted 76 goals for Walsall in the last three seasons, during which time he has been their top scorer. In about 150 games, that works out to be a goal every two games.

"He has showed that he can score goals in the Second Division and I believe he can score goals at a higher level,'' said Georgevic. "I believe Kyle will score goals at whatever level he plays.'' At age 28, Lightbourne knows time is running out if he is to achieve his goal of playing in the top division.

"This is the most important time of his career,'' Georgevic said. "He has worked exceptionally hard to earn that opportunity.

"If it wasn't for him, there is no way that Wasall would have got anywhere near the play-offs. If you look at the next highest scorer at Walsall, I believe it was (Adrian) Viveash with 10 -- and he's a centre-half! "He probably scored three times as many as any of his goalscoring partners.'' Also keen to get into the Premier League is another Bermudian, Shawn Goater, who completed his first season at Bristol City by scoring 25 goals, the same as Lightbourne.

But City missed out in the play-offs and they, too, may face inquiries about their top scorer who still has a year left on his contract.

"I spoke to the Bristol City chairman (Scott Davidson) and I think he is very pleased with Shawn's performances this season,'' said Georgevic, who is also Goater's agent.

"He has asked me the question, would Shawn be looking to extend his contract, so they may well offer him new terms to extend that contract. It depends on those terms, but to be fair to Shawn, and Kyle as well, money isn't their God.

"They have come to England to play at the highest level possible and Shawn may wait to see what the situation is at the end of next season.'' Considering their personal circumstances, Lightbourne looks the more likely to be playing at a higher level.

"Both have very similar goal scoring records but Kyle has the advantage over Shawn of being out of contract,'' said their agent.

"Kyle is free to talk to whoever he wants. I think there will definitely be a lot of interest.

"The disadvantage Shawn has is that Bristol City are a big enough club to turn offers down. He's very popular in Bristol and has had a very good season.''